The Smart Date Screening Test

Welcome to the Smart Date Screening test. The purpose of this little exercise is to acquire a feel for how well-rounded and inquisitive you have been in life so far. The questions are geared towards humanities-type subjects. Doing poorly on this test does not indicate a lack of intelligence, as one may well be a genius in mathematics or mechanical engineering. It does help to show whether a person has those 'Renaissance' qualities which make for an interesting intellectual match. So enjoy, and be a curious person about the world!

1

Which of these people was an important catalyst in the flowering of culture during the so-called Renaissance? (1 point)

Alessandro Scarlatti

St.Augustine

Charles Martel

Lorenzo de Medici

2

Which one of the following is NOT an Indo-European language? (2 pts)

Finnish

Cornish

Greek

Romansh

3

Which of the following countries was NOT allied to the Axis powers during World War Two? (1 point)

Romania

Finland

Portugal

Bulgaria

4

The domestic cat is currently believed to have been domesticated in what is now: (1 point)

India

China

Egypt

Greece

5

The study of coins is commonly referred to as: (1 point)

Philately

Oncology

Monetics

Numismatics

6

The most common element in the Earth's atmosphere is: (1 point)

Carbon dioxide

Hydrogen

Nitrogen

Oxygen

7

Tbe world's oldest known wine cellars were found in: (2 pts)

Spain

China

Egypt

France

8

Besides Canada and Mexico, select the TWO countries closest in distance to the borders of the United States: (1 point)

Puerto Rico and Cuba

Cuba and Russia

Puerto Rico and Dominican Republic

Cuba and Bermuda

9

Which of the following was NOT invented first in ancient China? (1 point)

Noodles

Gas pipelines

Coins

The compass

10

English, in its modern form, is most properly classified as which type of language? (1 point)

Germanic

Romance

Italic

Celtic

11

Which of the following modern locations was NOT at some point a Dutch colony? (2 pts)

New York

South Africa

Madagascar

Surinam

12

A controversial set of passages removed from the Koran commanding moderation towards non-Muslims is commonly referred to as: (2 pts)

The Celestine Prophecies

The Arian Heresy

The Al-Hazred

The Satanic Verses

13

The word 'terroirism' denotes: (1 point)

A system of breeding hunting dogs

A belief that violence can achieve political ends

A method of divination using molten lead

A belief that the soil is vital in producing wine's flavor

14

Which of the following is generally believed to have NOT been practiced in Catholicism since its early origins? (2 pts)

Baptism

Circumcision

The sacrament

Clerical celibacy

15

A binturong is: (2 pts)

An arboreal mammal that smells like popcorn

A skirt-like wrap often worn in Southeast Asia

A legendary white-skinned pygmy

A fenced-in area used to herd cattle

16

Which of the following was NOT advocated by the famous Protestant reformer Martin Luther? (3 pts)

Cessation of indulgence sales

Only clergy hold the priesthood

Bigamy

Salvation achieved by faith, not works

17

The oldest multi-page book in the world was recently discovered in which country, written in which language? (2 pts)

Bulgaria, in Etruscan

Spain, in Ogam

Turkey, in Hittite

Iran, in Sanskrit

18

Recently a number of government officials and congressmen were unable to correctly answer this question. See if you know better! What Islamic sect did Al-Quaid originate in? (1 point)

Sikh

Sunni

Ismaili

Shia

19

An ancient civilization in which of these modern countries first invented chocolate? (1 point)